Michelle Graham > Withers Bergman LLP > San Diego, United States > Lawyer Profile

Michelle Graham

Work Department

International Wealth Planning

Position

Partner

Career

Michelle’s team focuses on estate planning and tax planning strategies for both domestic and international clients. She has considerable experience in advising both US and non-US clients on tax planning matters, including planning and implementing strategies to minimize global taxation and IRS compliance with regard to foreign reporting.

Michelle advises non-US individuals around the world on investing in the United States, as well as advising US individuals residing outside of the country on their US tax filings and global estate planning. Her cross-border experience includes work in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Australia, Canada and the Middle East.

She has done a substantial amount of work for migrating clients, including corporate executives moving from state to state and abroad and those choosing to retire or have a second home in California.

Michelle also advises on sophisticated planning issues for family businesses, including structuring and implementing intra-family sales, buy-sell agreements and family business succession planning.

Michelle was specifically recognized as a “key lawyer” as part of the Withers US International Tax Team ranked by the US Legal 500 2020. She is also ranked in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite, Best Lawyers in America®, San Diego Super Lawyers, Women Leaders in the Law and has achieved a Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rating.

Memberships

International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (IAETL) Academician

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Fellow

U.S.- Mexico Bar Association (Barra de Abogados Mexico-Estados Unidos) – Tax Section – Board of Directors

STEP (Society of Tax and Estate Practitioners) San Diego Board of Directors

ALI CLE International Trust and Estate Planning Conference 2019, co-chair

San Diego County Bar Association – Taxation and International Law Sections

California State Bar Association – Taxation and Tax-Exempt Organization Section

American Bar Association

Scripps Health Foundation Gift Planning Advisory Board, Former Member

KPBS Planned Giving Committee – Chairman

San Diego Planned Giving Roundtable

San Diego Estate Planning Council – Former President and Treasurer

University of San Diego – Planned Giving Advisory Committee

KPBS Planned Giving Committee, Former Chairman

San Diego Humane Society Advisory Board, Former Member

San Diego Arthritis Foundation Board of Directors – Chairman of the Board of Directors (2000-2001)

Arthritis Foundation’s National Planned Giving Committee (1996-2001)

Education

Southern Methodist University, B.S.

University of San Diego School of Law, J.D.

University of San Diego, LL.M. in Taxation

University of San Diego, M.A. (International Business)